The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-07

Though the situation thus far considered
Is fraught with danger which should be fully
realized, and though IL presents features OK
W rong to the people as well as peril to the
1t Is but result growing out OF
a perfectly palpabie and apparent cause,
reproducing the same alarming
ircumstances-acOn cOngested national treasury
and depleted monetary condition In the
business Of the country. 1t need hardly be
stated that while the present situation de-
mands a remedy, we can only be saved from
a like predcament in the future BY the re-
moval Of its cause.
Our scheme Of taxation, by means Of which
this needless surplus Is taken from the peo-
pie and put into the public treasury, consists
Of a tariff or duty levied upon impOrtatlons
from abroad, and internal revenue taxes lev
led upon the consumption OF tobacco and
spurious and malt liquors. 1t must Dc con-
eeded that none Of the things subjected TO
internal revenue taxation are, strictly speak.
ing, necessaries; there appears to be no just
complaint Of this taxation by the consumers
OF these articles, and there seems to be moth
ing SO well able to bear the burden without
hardship TO any portion Of the people.
But our present tariff laws, the vicious, IN
equitable and illogical source OF unnecessary
taxation, ought to be at once revised ana
amended These laws, as their primary ana
plain effect, raise the price TO consumers OF
all articles Imported and subject 10 duty Dy
precisely the sum paid for such duties. mus
the amount of the duty measures the tax
paid by those who purchase for use these I'M
ported articles. Many Of these things, now
ever, are raised or manufactured In our own
country, and the duties now levied upon I0r-
eign goods aud products are called protec-
ti0n to Rthese home manufactures, because
theV render it possible for those OF our peo-
pie who are manufacturers, 20 make these
taxed articles, and sell them for price.
equal 10 that demandad for the imported
goods that have paid customs duty: 30 IL
happens that while comparatively a Few use
the Imported articles, millions OF our people
who never use and never saw any OF the Tor.
egn products, purchase and use Things Oh
the same kind made In this country, and pay
therefor nearly or quite the same enhanced
price which the duty adds to the Imported
articles Those who buy imports pay the
duty charged thereon into the public treasu-
ry but the great majority OF our citizens,
who buy domestic articles oil the same class,
pay sum at least approximately equal 70
this duty to the home manufacturer; This
reference to the operation Of our tariff laws
is not made by way OF instruction, but In or
der that we may be constantly reminded Oh
the manner In which they impose burden
upon those who consume domestic products
as well as those who consume Imported artl-
cles, and thus create tax upon all our peo-
pie.
IL tisnot proposed to entirely relieve the
country Of this taxation. IL must be exten-
sively continued as the source Of the govern.
-
our tariff the interests Of American labor en-
gagged In manufacture should be carefully
Considered, as well as the preservation OF
our manufacturers. IL may be called protec-
tion. OF by any other name, but reiieI from
the hardships and dangers OF our present
tariff laws, should be devised with especial
precaution against against imperilling the
existence of our manufacturing interests.
But this existence should not mean condi-
tion which, without regard to the public well
g. rottopaI QxiOqnQV must ALWAYS In
sure the realization OF immense profits In
stead of moderately profitable returns. As
the volume and diversity OF our national ac-
tivities increase. new recruits are ADDED 10
those who desire a continuation OF tine au-
vantages which they conceive the present
system Of tariff taxation directly AFFORDS
them. So stubbornly have all efforts 20 re-
form the present condition been resisted Dy
those Of our fell0w-eitizens thus engaged,
that they can hardly complain OF the suspi-
ciOn. entertained to a certain extent. that
there exists an organized combination all
along the line TO maintain their advantage.
We are in the midst OF centennial celeDra-
tions, and with becoming pride we rejoice IN
American skill and ingenuity, In American
energy and enterprise, and in the wonderful
natural advantages and resources developed
by a century's national growth. fet Wnen
an attempt Is made to Justify scheme whicn
permits tax to be laid upon every consumer
in the land for the benefit OF our manuIac-
turers quite beyond reasonable demand
for governmental regard, it suits the pur-
poses Of advocacy to call our manufactures
infant industries, still needing the highest
and greatest degree OF favor and fostering
care that can be Wrung from lcuolai iosisia-
ton.
1t is also said that the increase In the price
of domestic manufactures resulting from the
present tariff Is necessary In order tnat
higher wages may be paid to our working
men employed In manufactures, tnan are
.,fI 30 "a Ia qalln6 the manner labor oil
Europe All will acknowledge the force Oh
an argument which involves the welfare and
liberal compensation OF our laboring people.
Our labor is hon0rablein the eyes OF every
American citizen; and as 1t lies at the f0un-
datiOn Of our development and progress, II
Is entitled, without affectatlOn or hypocrisy,
to the utmost regard. The standard OF our
laborers' life should not be measured BY that
of any other country less favored. and they
are entitled TO their full share Of all our adj
vantages,
BY the last census 1t Is made to appear that
Of the II 7,392,099 Of our. population engaged
I'm all kinds of industries 7,670,493 are en-
ployed in agriculture, 4,074,23S In profes..
sional and personal service, 2,934, ,S76 OF
whom are domestic servants and laborers,l
while $780, are employed in trade and
transportation, and $685., ,1l2 are classed as
employed in manufacturing and mining.
For present purposes, however, the last
number given should be considerably re-
all, it will be conceded that there should be
deducted from those which 1t includes 375,-
143 carpenters and j0iners, 5,4O1 milliners,
dressmakers. and seamstresses, 172,726
blacksmiths, 133, 756 tail0rs and tailoresses,
1O2. .473 masons, 1924 butchers. Al, 800 bakers,
%, ,OS3 plasterers, and ,S91 engaged In manu-
facsuring agricultural implements, amount
ing in the aggregate to 1,2i4,023 leaving p
623, ,0S9 persons employed In such manufac-
turing industries as are claimed to be Dene-
fted by high tariff.
To these the appeal is made to save their
employment and maintain their wages by
resisting a change. There should be no dis
position to answer such suggestions by the
allegation that they are In q minority among
those who labor, and therefore should foreg0
an advantage, In the interest Of low prices
for the majority; their compensation, as u
may be affected by the operation OF tariff
laws, should at all times be s:rupulously
kept in view; and yet with slight reflection
they will not overlook the fact that they are
consumers with the rest; that they, too,
have their own wants and those of their
families to supply from their earnings, and
that the price Of the necessaries Of life, as
well as the amount Of their wages, will reg
ulate the measure Of their welfare and com
fort
But the reduction Of taxation demanded
should be so measured as not TO necessltate
or justify either the loss sof employment by
the working man nor the leSsening OF his
wages and the profits still remaining to the
manufacturer, after a necessary readjust-
ment, should furnish no excuse for the sacri-
fee OF the interests Of his employees either In
their opportunity to work or in the diminu-
tion Of their compensation. Nor can the
worker in manufactures fail to understand
that while a high tariff is claimed to be
necessary to allow the payment OF remuner-
ative wages, 1t certainly results In very
large increase In the price Of nearly all sorts
Of manufactures, which, In almost countless
forms, he needs for the use Of himself and
his family. He receives at the desk OF his
employer his wages, and perhaps before he
reaches his home Is obliged, In a purchase
for family use of an article which embraces
his own labor. TO return In the payment OF
the increase In price which the tariff per-
mits, the hard-earned compensation Of many
day of toll.
The farmer and the agriculturist who man
ufacture nothing, but who pay the increased
price which the tariff imposes, upon every
agricultural implement, upon all he wears
and upon all he uses and owns, except the
increase OF his hOcks and herds and such
things as his husbandry produces from the
soil, Is invited TO aid In maintaining the pres
ent situation; and he Is told that high duty
on imported wool Is necessary for the benefit
of those who have sheep 10 shear, In order
that the price Of their wool may be increased.
They Of course are not reminded that the
farmer who has no sheep Is by this scheme
obliged, In his purchases Of clothing and
woolen goods, TO pay tribute TO his fellow
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